Sign



April 5,1921. 1,523,585

C.E.FAYLE SIGN Filed Sept; 8, 1925 ,HMMMM .mimmmMMmmMm seription progresses.

Patented Apr. 5, '1927.

unirse stares PATENT FQB CHARLES E. FAYLE, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CAFTADj-, LSSQ'G'R .130 JOSEPH Ti. VABD,

SIG-N.

Application mea september My invent-ion relates particularly to elec tric signs of the type in which the figures, letters or other characters are of open channel cross-section, the channel presented by each character conforming to the shape of the character and being illuminated by electric lamps distributed. throughout the channel. v

The principal objects of the invent-ion are:

(a) To provide a sign of this type 1n which each figure, letter, emblem or other device will appear in a plurality of contrasting colors with the lines of demarcation between the colors accentuated both day and night;

(Z9) To provide a. sign of the above-mentioned type in which it will be possible to see the colors in their relative arrangement from all angles;

(c) To provide a sign in which the light will be uniformly diffused throughouteach ligure, letter, emblem or otherk device appearing thereon.

Other minor objects will appear as the de- To this end my invention Consists of the combination, construction and particular ar rangement of the parts hereinafter described and illustrated and pointed out in the claims.

For full comprehension, however, of my invention reference must be had to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an electric sign constructed according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 Figure 1; and

Figure 4: is a detail fragmentary sec tional view illustrating one of the support brackets.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one en'ibodiment of my invention in a sign eonsisting of the letter N iu two contrasted colors which is sufficient to disclose the various features of the invention` It is to be distinctly understood however that some or all of the novel features of the invention may be appied to one or more groups of letters, figures, emblems and devices in gen- 8, 1925. Serial N0. 54,885.`

eral in any number of colors without departing from the scope of the invention.

The en'ibodiment illustrated consists of a base 2 having the letter N in relief thereon. This letter is of channel or trough cross-section, throughout the bottom 3 of the channel being provided with the usual electric lamp sockets d and being constituted by the base. A bead 8O is formed `integrally with the top edges of the outer sides 5 of the letter servino` the same purpose as the bead 14, in that it demarcates the boundry of the letter, the metal being folded on itself several times to produce the re quired thickness.

The letter is shown in two contrasting colors G and 7, the former being the darker and being bordered by the latter. This color arrangement will be presently described in greater detail.

In signs of this -channel type considerable diiiiculty has been experienced in the pastin accentuating the lines of demarcation between the colors and at the same time im` parting to all of the colors the same degree of visibility particularly when the sign is illuminated. This difficulty is overcome in the present construction by inner divisional walls 8 bounding the inner color 6 and being disposed substantially parallel to the outer walls 5 of the letter. These divisional walls are slightly inclined from their inner edges outwardly to provide ample clearance for the electric lamps and are perforated throughout their entire areas, being preferably constructed of fine wire mesh and preferably of double thickness, and they are suspended by brackets 10 in Vposition with their inner edges spaced from the bottom 3 as at 12 and reinforced bya stiffening bead 13, and with their outer edges intransverse alignment with the outer edges of the sides 5 and terminating in a continuous bead 14. rThis last mentioned bead maybe of any preferred cross-section and is located at a point beyond the outer end of the lamp filaments so that the rays of light tl'ierefrom will strike the rear but not the front face 15 of the bead. A shadow is thus produced on the front face and the bead is caused to stand out prominently when the sign is illuminated, clearly marking the division between the colors. To render the bead conspicuous during the day it is painted black or some color which will contrast with the colors of the sign.

The brackets l0 which are constructed of tine wire so that they will not be visible eX- cept from very short dista ces are detachable to permit the insertion and removal of the divisional walls as an internal unit for the purpose of facilitating painting and other repairs or to tit in with other designs these brackets may be given width for effect.

The coloring of the sign thus constructed carried out as follows, the specific colors referred to being` by way of example only; the area of the bottom 23 with the exception of a narrow margin is colored red and both sides of the divisional walls are made the same color or if desired the outer side may be colored to conform to and supplement the color of the margin; the marginal area 3"' of the bottoni, the outer side ot the divisional wall, and the innel, face of the outer wall ae white, and the bead lft black; while the base 2 is yellow. From the 'foregoing it will be seen that the middle portieri of bottom 3 and the divisional walls combine to t'orm a dark colored N and the marginai area 3 of the bottom 3 and the inner side of the outer wall 5 combine to form a light colored N bordering the dark colored N so that the sign when viewed from any angle does not lose its distinctive shape.

The purpose of the multiplicity of perfor-ations 2() throughout the entire area of the divisional walls is to uniformly diffuse the light throughout the letter. The dotted arrows iu Figure I) clearly indicate the uniform diffusion which takes place, the light colored portions receiving substantially the full intensity of the light.

If desired the outside walls may also be perforated to diffuse the light over the area, of the base 2 surrouiuling` the letter or the side walls may be cut out as indicated at 2.3 to indicate any desired device and the cut out portion covered with a transparent or semi-transparent material colored or otherwise. The object is to make the whole or a portion of the wall pervious to light for the purpose of slightly illuminating the surface of the base outside of the letter.

' From the foregoing it is obvious that the divisional walls may be composed of a transparent 0r semi-transparent material, and that the number of contrasted colors and the divisional walls forming the lines of demarcation may be Ivaried as desired. I have found from actua-l test that best results are obtained by coloring the letter immediately adjacent the lamps with a dark color as indicated by the red bottom in the embodiment illustrated. Wvhen this port-ion of the letter is for instance, white, the reflection of the light is so great thatit obscures the darker border portions.

Although the letter is shown in relief in the illustrated embodiment it may be countersunk in the base if desired.

It is also to be understood that the divisional walls may be incorporated in signs previously constructed as a unit or as separate members and when applied to characters the channels of which are comparatively narrow the con tignration of the walls may be sailloped or otherwise arranged to provide clearance for the electric lamps.

that I claim is as follows:

1. An electric sign otl channel form having a divisional unit detachably mounted within the channel and substantially conforming to the shape of the latter, said unit consisting of walls perforated throughout their entire area and snljiported in position rwith their inner edges spaced from the bottom of the channel and with their outer edges in trimsverse alignment with the outer edges ot the channel, and a continuous bead mounted upon the outer edges of the said perforated walls, and brackets detachably supporting the unit.

2. An electric sign appearing iu contrasted colors consisting of a base, a character of channel. cross-section carried by the base, said channel having a bottom and side alls and presenting an open front, a plum rality of lamp sockets in the said. bottom, and combined means for accentuating the lilies of demarcation between the colors and for diffusing the light throughout the channel, said means consisting ol a unit comprising walls sul'istantially conforming in shape to the side walls of the channel and inclined from their inner edges outwardly, said walls being perforated throughout their entire areas, a bead on the outer edges of said walls, and means for suspending said unit in position with the said bead accentuating the f lines of demarcation between the contrasted colors.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my naine.

CHARLES E. FAYLE. 

